Ambulatory Presence Features

ABSTRACT

A system facilitates managing one or more devices utilized for communicating data within a telepresence session. A telepresence session can be initiated within a communication framework that includes a first user and one or more second users. In response to determining a temporary absence of the first user from the telepresence session, a recordation of the telepresence session is initialized to enable a playback of a portion or a summary of the telepresence session that the first user has missed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/413,782, filed on Mar. 30, 2009, the entirety ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Computing and network technologies have transformed many aspects ofeveryday life. Computers have become household staples rather thanluxuries, educational tools and/or entertainment centers, and provideindividuals and corporations with tools to manage and forecast finances,control operations such as heating, cooling, lighting and security, andstore records and images in a permanent and reliable medium. Networkingtechnologies like the Internet provide individuals virtually unlimitedaccess to remote systems, information and associated applications.

In light of such advances in computer technology (e.g., devices,systems, memory, wireless connectivity, bandwidth of networks, etc.),mobility for individuals have greatly. For example, with the advent ofwireless technology, emails and other data can be communicated andreceived with a wireless communications device such as a cellular phone,smartphone, portable digital assistant (PDA), and the like. As a result,physical presence for particular situations has drastically reduced orbeen reduced. In an example, a business meeting between two or moreindividuals can be conducted virtually in which the two or moreparticipants interact with one another remotely. Such virtual meetingsthat can be conducted with remote participants can be referred to as atelepresence session.

Traditional virtual meetings include teleconferences, web-conferencing,or desktop/computer sharing. Yet, each virtual meeting may notsufficiently replicate or simulate a physical meeting. A virtuallyrepresented user can interact and communicate data within a telepresencesession by leveraging devices with inputs and outputs. One shortcomingassociated with conventional telepresence systems is the inherentrestrictions placed upon collaboration participants. In essence,participants are traditionally physically bound to narrow confines aboutthe desktop or other device facilitating the collaboration. With usershaving numerous devices and such devices having various capabilities andfunctionalities, options for connectivity with a telepresence sessionhas been increased. Users are thus faced with a plethora of options forconnectivity.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in orderto provide a basic understanding of some aspects described herein. Thissummary is not an extensive overview of the claimed subject matter. Itis intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the claimedsubject matter nor delineate the scope of the subject innovation. Itssole purpose is to present some concepts of the claimed subject matterin a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description thatis presented later.

The subject innovation relates to systems and/or methods that facilitateselecting a device and/or adjusting an input or output related to theselected device based upon a detected cue. A detection component canevaluate the available devices utilized to interact or communicate witha telepresence session. Based on available devices, the detectioncomponent can select an optimal device in connection with theidentification of a cue, wherein the cue is a detected movement, adetected event, or an ambient variation. In other words, the detectioncomponent can optimally select which devices to activate for in order tocommunicate within the telepresence session. In addition, the detectioncomponent can automatically adjust or adapt a setting associated withthe device such as a device input or a device output.

When, for example, moving from the desktop to a whiteboard several feetaway, it become more difficult to view and hear the other members of thegroup. Accordingly, the subject innovation relates to a telepresencesystem that can adapt to ambulatory characteristics of the participant.In one aspect, the visual feature of a display (and volume for speakers)can automatically increase in size or magnification scale when aparticipant moves away from a designated space. In another case, inconnection with a projector or other hardware, the display can beprojected to a surface that is more local to the participant. Moreover,this new output can move with the participant and even position itselfbased upon the participant's posture, angle, or gaze direction.Ultimately, the detection component can follow the participant to otherrooms to be output on local devices, be transferred to, say, a laptopwhen there are no other suitable I/O devices present, and even transferto a cell phone (and/or Bluetooth ear bug) when necessary in a mannerthat is platform independent, utilizing the available hardware in asuitable manner for information flow in either direction. Overall, thesubject innovation can seamlessly (or with a minimum of distraction)transfer the task space and the remote participant(s) when the localparticipant(s) move. Also, from the remote participant(s) view, thesubject innovation can enable the system to make a seamless transitionand keep as much as possible the same gaze and geometry betweenparticipants.

Furthermore, a buffer component can track or record a portion of thetelepresence session in the instance where a participant is temporarilyabsent. During such absence, the buffer component can track and storedata (e.g., a portion of audio, a portion of video, a portion of text,etc.), wherein such tracked data can be accessed or delivered to thereturning user to enable a playback. The buffer component can furtheremploy an intelligent process (e.g., compress, speed up the playback ofthe buffered content, etc.). For example, the buffer component candelete or skip long gaps in the buffered content (e.g., boring bits).Furthermore, the buffer component can provide the ability tointelligently detect tone (e.g., excitement, animation, urgency viavolume, pace (short gaps between speakers), etc.) and tag for rapidplayback of the most important bits (e.g., useful in public safety,emergency situation, or black box type of application, etc.). The buffercomponent can further combine with voice recognition and tagging toprovide cueing as well as forensic benefits in public safety or blackbox applications. The buffer component can further create a summary andenable participants to “catch up” with missed portions of the session.In other aspects of the claimed subject matter, methods are providedthat facilitate managing device selection or input/output settings.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detailcertain illustrative aspects of the claimed subject matter. Theseaspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways inwhich the principles of the innovation may be employed and the claimedsubject matter is intended to include all such aspects and theirequivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the claimed subjectmatter will become apparent from the following detailed description ofthe innovation when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system thatfacilitates adjusting a device that interacts with a telepresencesession based upon a detected cue.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system thatfacilitates monitoring a user interacting within a telepresence sessionin order to adapt a device input or a device output.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system thatfacilitates selecting a device to utilize for a telepresence session andadjusting various inputs or outputs.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system thatfacilitates employing adjustment for a device utilized within anautomatically initiated telepresence session.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary system that facilitatesenabling two or more virtually represented users to communicate within atelepresence session on a communication framework.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system thatfacilitates identifying a device to utilize for communication within atelepresence session and/or adjusting an input or output on the devicebased on a detection of a cue.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary methodology for selecting a device thatinteracts with a telepresence session based upon a detected cue.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary methodology that facilitates optimallyselecting devices and inputs or outputs on a device for interactionwithin a telepresence session.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary networking environment, wherein thenovel aspects of the claimed subject matter can be employed.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary operating environment that can beemployed in accordance with the claimed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the subject innovation. It may be evident, however,that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the subjectinnovation.

As utilized herein, terms “component,” “system,” “data store,”“session,” “engine,” “module,” “manager,” “device,” and the like areintended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware,software (e.g., in execution), and/or firmware. For example, a componentcan be a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, anexecutable, a program, a function, a library, a subroutine, and/or acomputer or a combination of software and hardware. By way ofillustration, both an application running on a server and the server canbe a component. One or more components can reside within a process and acomponent can be localized on one computer and/or distributed betweentwo or more computers.

Furthermore, the claimed subject matter may be implemented as a method,apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computerreadable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storagedevices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips . . . ), opticaldisks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD) . . . ),smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive . .. ). Additionally it should be appreciated that a carrier wave can beemployed to carry computer-readable electronic data such as those usedin transmitting and receiving electronic mail or in accessing a networksuch as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). Of course, thoseskilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to thisconfiguration without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimedsubject matter. Moreover, the word “exemplary” is used herein to meanserving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or designdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

Now turning to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 thatfacilitates adjusting a device that interacts with a telepresencesession based upon a detected cue. The system 100 can include adetection component 102 that can automatically adjust or adapt an input108 or an output 110 associated with a device (not shown) thatcommunicates with a telepresence session 104. In general, a user 106 canleverage a device that includes at least one of the input 108 or theoutput 110 in order to interact within the telepresence session 104. Thedetection component 102 can adjust settings related to the input 108 orthe output 110 based upon the detected of a cue, wherein the cue can be,but is not limited to being, an event, a physical movement associatedwith the user 106, or an ambient variation. In other words, based upondetected cues related to the user 106 or a physical environment in whichthe user 106 resides, the detection component 102 can configure theinput 108 or the output 110 accordingly.

For example, a user can utilize numerous devices with various inputs andoutputs available for interaction or communication within a telepresencesession. Based upon detected cues related to such user or the user'senvironment, selection of such devices and adjustments of respectiveinputs and outputs can be implemented in order to optimize thecapabilities of interacting with the telepresence session. For example,sound can be received by microphones from numerous devices such as alaptop microphone, a stand-alone microphone, or a cell phone microphone.Based upon a detected cue such as movement, the sensitivity of themicrophone can be adjusted as well as which microphone to utilize inorder to receive sound/audio for the telepresence session. It is to beappreciated that any suitable device as well as any suitable inputs oroutputs utilized in connection with a telepresence session can bemanipulated, adjusted, or selected by the detection component 102.

The detection component 102 can seamlessly hand-off input or outputresponsibilities between a group or family of devices as well asadjustments settings related to such inputs and outputs. It is to beappreciated that there can be any suitable number of devices to whichthe system 100 can manage. Moreover, there can be any suitable number ofinputs 108 for each device, such as input₁ to input_(T), where T is apositive integer. Additionally, there can be any suitable number ofoutputs 110, such as output₁ to output_(N), where N is a positiveinteger. For example, the input 108 can be any suitable input related toa device that can receive and transmit communications to thetelepresence session 104. The input can receive data such as, but notlimited to, a portion of audio, a portion of video, a portion of agraphic, a portion of text, a portion of a gesture, a movement, aportion of a video, a portion of a live video feed, a photo, a picture,etc. In an additional example, the output 110 can be any suitable outputrelated to a device that can receive and transmit communications fromthe telepresence session 104. The output can transmit data such as, butnot limited to, a portion of audio, a portion of video, a portion of agraphic, a portion of text, a portion of a video, a portion of a livevideo feed, a photo, a picture, a portion of displayable data, etc.

In an example, a user can utilize a group of devices based upon locationto which the virtually represented user is participating with thetelepresence session 104. Initially, a user can be utilizing a laptop(e.g., having respective inputs/outputs) in a meeting room tocommunicate with the telepresence session. The user can re-locate or bein transition from the meeting room to his or her automobile during suchre-location, the subject innovation can detect and seamlessly hand-offcommunication from the laptop to a mobile device (e.g., smartphone, PDA,cellular device, etc.). Moreover, once within the automobile, thesubject innovation can hand-off communication responsibilities from themobile device to device(s) associated with the automobile (e.g.,hands-free device, wireless linkage, etc.). For instance, during thetransition from the meeting room to the automobile, the hand-off can befrom the laptop to a smartphone, whereas the hand-off upon reaching theautomobile can add additional devices for the communication with thetelepresence session (e.g., wireless devices, hands-free devices,speakers, microphones, heads-up displays, etc.).

The telepresence session 104 (discussed in more detail in FIG. 5) can bea virtual environment in which two or more virtually represented userscan communicate utilizing a communication framework. In general, aphysical user can be represented within the telepresence session 104 inorder to communicate to another user, entity (e.g., user, machine,computer, business, group of users, network, server, enterprise, device,etc.), and the like. For instance, the telepresence session 104 canenable two or more virtually represented users to communicate audio,video, graphics, images, data, files, documents, text, etc.

It is to be appreciated that the system 100 can adjust the collection ofinputs for a user within the telepresence session 104 as well as adjustthe collection of outputs for a user on the receiving end within thetelepresence session 104. For example, the experience of the localpeople of seeing or hearing the remote participants when they (localpeople) are moving around say, in a room can be adjusted or manipulated.For example, A and B are two users involved in a telepresence session.They can see each other on a screen in front of them each. Now when Astands up and walks to the board, he may not see B anymore because thescreen may not be visible. In that case, the telepresence session canfind another screen in the room to move B's video so A can continue tosee B. Similar logic holds good for audio. Moreover, the scenario is notjust limited when A walks away from the screen. Even when A movesslightly, he can see a slightly different video of B on the screensimulating a “hole in the wall” experience.

In addition, the system 100 can include any suitable and/or necessaryinterface component 112 (herein referred to as “the interface 112”),which provides various adapters, connectors, channels, communicationpaths, etc. to integrate the detection component 102 into virtually anyoperating and/or database system(s) and/or with one another. Inaddition, the interface 112 can provide various adapters, connectors,channels, communication paths, etc., that provide for interaction withthe detection component 102, the telepresence session 104, the inputs108, the outputs 110, and any other device and/or component associatedwith the system 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 that facilitates monitoring a userinteracting within a telepresence session in order to adapt a deviceinput or a device output. The system 200 can include the detectioncomponent 102 that can select at least one device 202 from a group orfamily of devices and adjust an input or an output related to suchdevice in order to optimize interaction and/or communication within thetelepresence session 104. The detection component 102 can monitor theuser 106 in real time (e.g., in situ) in order to ascertain whether adevice 202 selection (e.g., select a new device, maintain the selecteddevice, seamless hand-off between two devices, etc.) shall be performed.Moreover, the detection component 102 can monitor the user 106 in orderto adjust an input or an output related to the selected device 202.

It is to be appreciated that the device 202 can be any suitable devicethat can receive or transmit data from or to the telepresence session104. The device 202 can be, but is not limited to being, a laptop, asmartphone, a desktop, a microphone, a live video feed, a web camera, amobile device, a cellular device, a wireless device, a gaming device, aportable gaming device, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a headset,an audio device, a telephone, a tablet, a messaging device, a monitor, acamera, a media player, a portable media device, a browser device, akeyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a speaker, a wireless Internet browser, adedicated device or surrogate for telepresence, etc. Thus, any suitableinput or output associated with such devices 202 can be adjusted basedupon the detection of a cue from the detection component 102.

The detection component 102 can include a motion module 204 that candetect real time motion from the user 106. In particular, motion relatedto the user 106 can be detected as a cue in which such detected motioncan trigger at least one of a 1) selection of a device for interactionor communication with the telepresence session 104; or 2) adjustment ofan input or an output of the selected device utilized with thetelepresence session 104. The motion module 204 can detect, for example,eye movement, geographic location, local proximity, hand motions, handgestures, body motions (e.g., yawning, mouth movement, head movement,etc.), and the like. Based upon the detection of movement by the motionmodule 204, a device 202 can be selected and/or an input or output canbe adjusted. For example, a user can be utilizing two or more devicesthat capture video and transmit such video to the telepresence session104, wherein such devices can be in various locations within a meetingroom to which the user resides. A first device can be located at a deskto capture video and a second device can be located at a whiteboard tocapture video. Based on detected motion such as the user moving from thedesk to the whiteboard, the detection motion can trigger a seamlesshand-off from the first device to the second device in order to capturevideo from a more representative perspective. For example, the motionmodule 204 can detect motion utilizing a global positioning system(GPS), radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, optical motiontracking system (marker or markerless), inertial system, mechanicalmotion system, magnetic system, and the like. It is to be appreciatedthat it can take more than motion detection to understand that the usermoved from their seat to the board. It's more of an activity or eventdetection. Motion detection, sound detection, RFID, infrared etc. arethe low level cues that help in activity or event detection orinference. Thus, there can be a plurality of cues (e.g., high level cuesand low level cues, etc.) that can enable the identification of amovement, motion, or event. For example low level cues can be motiondetection, voice detection, GPS etc. Whereas a high level cue can be ahigher level activity such as walking, speaking, looking at someone,walked up to the board, stepped out of the room, etc.

The detection component 102 can further include an event module 206 thatcan detect an event in real time, wherein such event can initiate theselection of a device 202 or an adjustment of an input or an output ofsuch selected device. For example, the event can be, but is not limitedto being, a pre-defined command (e.g., a voice command, a user-initiatedcommand, etc.), a topic presented within the telepresence session 104, aportion of data presented within the telepresence session 104, aformat/type of data presented, a change in a presenter within thetelepresence session 104, what is being presented, a time lapse, anarrival within the session of virtually represented users, a departurefrom the session from virtually represented users, a break during themeeting, a manipulation of a shared document, a stroke on an inputdevice (e.g., tablet, touch screen, white board, etc.), a loss of anetwork connection, etc. In one instance, a pre-defined command such asa voice command or a user initiated command (e.g., clicking of a button,etc.) can enable a device selection or an adjustment of an input oroutput of a selected device.

The detection component 102 can further include an ambient module thatcan enable detection of changes or variations in an environment,surroundings, or users. In general, an ambient cue such as a detectedvariation or change in the environment, surroundings, or with users, cantrigger the selection of a device and/or an adjustment of an input or anoutput. For instance, the ambient module 208 can detect changes in theenvironment (e.g., room temperature, humidity, level of noise, etc.),surroundings (e.g., voice levels, background noise, etc.), and users(e.g., tone, excitement, boredom, emotion, blood pressure, heart rates,etc.). In one example, a meeting room can include high levels ofbackground noise due to nearby construction. In such an example, thisambient cue detected (e.g., excessive background noise) can trigger atleast one of a selection of more suitable devices or adjustment ofinputs/outputs to alleviate such noise.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 that facilitates selecting a device toutilize for a telepresence session and adjusting various inputs oroutputs. The system 300 can include the detection component 102 thatoptimally selects at least one device 202 to interact or communicatewith the telepresence session 104. In particular, the detectioncomponent 102 can include a device manager 302 that can handle deviceselection based upon a cue and seamless hand-off between devices 202.Based upon a detected cue, the device manager 302 can evaluate theavailable devices 202 related to a virtually represented user and selectan optimal device based upon the type of cue. For instance, the cue canbe a transition based upon location (e.g., from one room to another, adesk location to a projector location, etc.) in which the device manager302 can switch interaction with the telepresence session 104 from onedevice to another device.

The system 300 can further include an adjuster 304 that can adjust oradapt any suitable input or output setting or configuration inaccordance with the detected cue. The adjuster 304 can identify theselected device and manage the available settings or configurations forthe inputs and/or outputs for the selected device. The adjustment to aninput can be, but is not limited to being, a microphone sensitivity, anoise cancellation, an angle, a perspective, a zoom, a pan, a focus, aresolution, a contrast, a brightness, a color adjustment, a gesturedetection sensitivity, motion detection sensitivity, voice distortion,etc. Furthermore, the adjustment to an output can be, but is not limitedto being, a volume, a resolution, brightness, a screen size, an objectsize, a contrast, a language, a screen position, a pixel ratio, afrequency, a refresh rate, a frame rate, etc. It is to be appreciatedthat an input and/or output device can move (e.g., movement,orientation, etc.) to adjust.

The system 300 can include a buffer component 306 that can track orrecord communications (e.g., interactions, data transfer, presentations,etc.) within the telepresence session 104 in order to allow a log thatcan be initiated for the user 106 based upon the user not attending suchportion of the telepresence session 104. In other words, the buffercomponent 306 can enable a user virtually represented within thetelepresence 104 to receive transmissions from the telepresence session104 independent of attendance. Thus, a user can be virtually representedwithin a telepresence session and depart for a break (e.g., restroom,lunch, phone call, cellular call, etc.) and return. Based upon suchreturn, the buffer component 306 can “catch up” the user to what he orshe missed during such break. In another example, the buffer component306 can provide information if a connectivity with the telepresencesession is lost. The buffer component 306 can provide highlights,fast-paced video that tracked the session, a context of material missed,a remote-like experience (e.g., fast-forward, rewind, pause, etc.), andthe like. In general, the buffer component 306 can enable a user toreceive any communication within the telepresence session 104 regardlessof his or her physical presence or interaction with the device 202.

The buffer component 306 can further employ an intelligent process(e.g., compress, speed up the playback of the buffered content, etc.).For example, the buffer component 306 can delete or skip long gaps inthe buffered content (e.g., boring bits). Furthermore, the buffercomponent 306 can provide the ability to intelligently detect tone(e.g., excitement, animation, urgency via volume, pace (short gapsbetween speakers), etc.) and tag for rapid playback of the mostimportant bits (e.g., useful in public safety, emergency situation, orblack box type of application, etc.). The buffer component 306 canfurther combine with voice recognition and tagging to provide cueing aswell as forensic benefits in public safety or black box applications.

For example, the buffer component 306 can be employed in an industrialscenario, an emergency scenario, combat scenario, high securityscenario, a secret service sceanario, or a public safety. With suchscenarios, a multitude of voices and communications can be occurring inwhich the buffer component 306 can manage and enable smart filtering inorder to comprehend such chatter or overlapping communications. Inanother example, the buffer component 306 can filter out unwanted noise(e.g., sirens, gunfire, explosions, background noise, etc.) in order toallow replay or playback without such cluttering noises. In anotherexample, the buffer component 306 can enable a user to focus a playbackto a particular speaker in which only selected speakers can be playedback. In still another example, the buffer component 306 can enable atrue context or meaning to be interpreted from the buffered content orrecording. Thus, a user can play back and speed through a buffer to getthe true meaning.

For example, the buffer component 206 can handle a scenario where aparticipant has to step out of the telepresence session (e.g., the smartmeeting room, etc.) for a time period during the telepresence session.For instance, the participant can see a high level very crisp summaryupdate appearing on his/her device (e.g., PDA, mobile device, deviceutilized to communicate with the telepresence session, etc.) as thetelepresence session continues with a picture/video/etc. of the currentspeaker. The participant may temporarily leave or not be inrange/contact with a device to communicate with the telepresencesession. In particular, the user can utilize an alarm (e.g., onparticipant speaking alarm, etc.) that can inform him/her when aspecific participant is talking. Similarly, the participant temporarilyout of contact or communication with the telepresence session can set anon subject changing alarm that can inform him/her when the subject ischanging. It is to be appreciated that any suitable alarm or event canbe utilized to trigger the designated notification for the participantthat is out of communication with the telepresence session.

In another instance, when a participant steps out of the automaticallyinitiated telepresence session and comes back, he/she can beautomatically updated with pertinent information to quickly catch-upwith the current state of the meeting/session. For example, thetelepresence session can detect topics and changes in such topics duringthe telepresence session (e.g., using the meeting agenda content,context change in the discussion, etc). When a participant step out ofthe session during “Topic 1” and come back during “Topic 2”, thetelepresence session can suggest to give directly a quick summary onwhere the meeting is on “Topic 2” so far so the participant canefficiently jump back into the current discussion, and get an update on“Topic 1” later on. In yet another instance, the degree of summarizationcan vary within the same topic. For example, if the participant comesback in the room after “Topic 2” has been discussed for a while, he/shewould get a very crisp summary of the beginning of “Topic 2” withoutcomes, a less summarized middle part, and the last 3 sentences infull. Moreover, the above concepts can be applied for participants thatjoin the telepresence session after the start time of the session.

The system 300 can further include a data store 308 that can include anysuitable data related to the detection component 102, the telepresencesession 104, the user 106, the device(s) 202, the device manager 302,the adjuster 304, the motion module (not shown), the event module (notshown), the ambient module (not shown), etc. For example, the data store308 can include, but not limited to including, available devices forvirtually represented users, inputs for devices, outputs for devices,cues, detected motions, detected events, ambient variations, adjustmentsfor inputs, adjustments for outputs, user tendencies, user preferences,user data (e.g., location, devices, etc.), buffer information (e.g.,settings, time settings, durations, logs, etc.), etc.

It is to be appreciated that the data store 308 can be, for example,either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include bothvolatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and notlimitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory.Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts asexternal cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM isavailable in many forms such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), Rambus direct RAM (RDRAM),direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM). Thedata store 308 of the subject systems and methods is intended tocomprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable typesof memory. In addition, it is to be appreciated that the data store 308can be a server, a database, a hard drive, a pen drive, an external harddrive, a portable hard drive, and the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system 400 that facilitates employing adjustmentfor a device utilized within an automatically initiated telepresencesession. The system 400 can include the detection component 102 that canidentify a cue, wherein such cue can trigger at least one of a deviceselection or an adjustment of an input/output setting for the selecteddevice. The detection component 102 can be utilized with an automatictelepresence engine 402 that can automatically initiate a telepresencesession 104 based upon collected and evaluated data. In general, theautomatic telepresence engine 402 can start, conduct, and terminate thetelepresence session without manual intervention. The automatictelepresence engine 402 can evaluate data in order to identify attendees(e.g., participants, virtually represented users that are to attend thetelepresence session, etc.), data related to a presentation within thetelepresence session, data related to a meeting topic within thetelepresence session, and/or devices utilized by attendees tocommunicate within the telepresence session. Moreover, the automatictelepresence engine 402 can provide automated data archiving/capturingduring the telepresence session that can track telepresence sessionminutes. With the telepresence session 104 being automatically trackedor recorded, a termination of such session can trigger the automatictelepresence session 402 to create and/or transmit a summary includingevents, topics, attendees, material discussed, etc. It is to beappreciated that such summary can include material discussed and can beshared.

By leveraging the automatic telepresence engine 402, various settingsand configurations can be performed and implemented without userintervention or manual configuration. For example, typical virtualmeetings require manual input or intervention such as meeting attendees,data required for the meeting, initiating meeting recordation (e.g.,recording audio, recording video, etc.), activating data sharing (e.g.,desktop/computer sharing, data files, etc.). However, the automatictelepresence engine 402 can automatically identify data, attendees, andrecordation data in order to eliminate manual intervention or input. Inother words, the automatic telepresence engine 402 can evaluate data inorder to automatically initiate the telepresence session 104 withattendees (e.g., virtually represented users), data utilized for thesession, and/or any other necessary data to conduct the telepresencesession 104.

In particular, the automatic telepresence engine 402 can evaluate dataassociated with at least one of a virtually represented user, a schedulefor a virtually represented user, a portion of an electroniccommunication for a virtually represented user, and/or any othersuitable data identified to relate to at least one of the virtuallyrepresented user or the telepresence session 104. The automatictelepresence engine 402 can further identify at least one the followingfor a telepresence session based upon the evaluated data: a participantto include for the telepresence session, a portion of data related to apresentation within the telepresence session, a portion of data relatedto a meeting topic within the telepresence session, a device utilized bya virtually represented user to communicate within the telepresencesession. With such evaluation and identification of data, thetelepresence session 104 can be initiated, conducted, and recorded(e.g., tracked, monitored, archived, etc.) without active manual userintervention or input.

FIG. 5 illustrates a system 500 that facilitates enabling two or morevirtually represented users to communicate within a telepresence sessionon a communication framework. The system 500 can include at least onephysical user 502 that can leverage a device 504 on a client side inorder to initiate a telepresence session 506 on a communicationframework. Additionally, the user 502 can utilize the Internet, anetwork, a server, and the like in order to connect to the telepresencesession 506 hosted by the communication framework. In general, thephysical user 502 can utilize the device 504 in order to provide inputfor communications within the telepresence session 506 as well asreceive output from communications related to the telepresence session506. The device 504 can be any suitable device or component that cantransmit or receive at least a portion of audio, a portion of video, aportion of text, a portion of a graphic, a portion of a physical motion,and the like. The device can be, but is not limited to being, a camera,a video capturing device, a microphone, a display, a motion detector, acellular device, a mobile device, a laptop, a machine, a computer, etc.For example, the device 504 can be a web camera in which a live feed ofthe physical user 502 can be communicated for the telepresence session506. It is to be appreciated that the system 500 can include a pluralityof devices 504, wherein the devices can be grouped based uponfunctionality (e.g., input devices, output devices, audio devices, videodevices, display/graphic devices, etc.).

The system 500 can enable a physical user 502 to be virtuallyrepresented within the telepresence session 506 for remotecommunications between two or more users or entities. The system 500further illustrates a second physical user 508 that employs a device 510to communicate within the telepresence session 506. As discussed, it isto be appreciated that the telepresence session 506 can enable anysuitable number of physical users to communicate within the session. Thetelepresence session 506 can be a virtual environment on thecommunication framework in which the virtually represented users cancommunicate. For example, the telepresence session 506 can allow data tobe communicated such as, voice, audio, video, camera feeds, datasharing, data files, etc.

Overall, the telepresence session 506 can simulate a real world orphysical meeting place substantially similar to a business environment.Yet, the telepresence session 506 does not require participants to bephysically present at a location. In order to simulate the physical realworld business meeting, a physical user (e.g., the physical user 502,the physical user 508) can be virtually represented by a virtualpresence (e.g., the physical user 502 can be virtually represented by avirtual presence 512, the physical user 508 can be represented by avirtual presence 514). It is to be appreciated that the virtual presencecan be, but is not limited to being, an avatar, a video feed, an audiofeed, a portion of a graphic, a portion of text, an animated object,etc.

For instance, a first user can be represented by an avatar, wherein theavatar can imitate the actions and gestures of the physical user withinthe telepresence session. The telepresence session can include as seconduser that is represented by a video feed, wherein the real world actionsand gestures of the user are communicated to the telepresence session.Thus, the first user can interact with the live video feed and thesecond user can interact with the avatar, wherein the interaction can betalking, typing, file transfers, sharing computer screens,hand-gestures, application/data sharing, etc.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system 600 that employs intelligence to facilitateautomatically identifying a device to utilize for communication within atelepresence session and/or adjusting an input or output on the devicebased on a detection of a cue. The system 600 can include the detectioncomponent 102, the telepresence session 104, the devices 202, deviceinputs (not shown), device outputs (not shown), the user 106, which canbe substantially similar to respective components, sessions, devices,inputs, outputs, and users described in previous figures. The system 600further includes an intelligent component 602. The intelligent component602 can be utilized by the detection component 102 to facilitateidentifying a cue that can trigger a device selection for communicationwithin the telepresence session 104 or an adjustment of an input or anoutput associated with the selected device. For example, the intelligentcomponent 602 can infer which available device to select, detected cues(e.g., motions, events, ambient variations, etc.), adjustments for adevice input, adjustment for a device output, settings for an input,settings for an output, configuration for an input, configuration for anoutput, configuration for a device, leaves of absence from atelepresence session for buffering, playback settings for a user inregards to buffering, etc.

For example, the intelligent component 602 can employ a playback/summaryin the inferred event that a participant has missed a portion of thetelepresence session 104 (e.g., absent, temporary leave, lost networkconnection, etc.). In another example, there can be an array of devicesthat can be engaged at the same time. For instance, when a user walks upto a whiteboard, the user's video can be captured using a overviewcamera that sees both the user and the whiteboard, a special camera thatcan get a close up view on the user's face, microphones attached to theboard, and the data stream from the board itself. When the users go backto their seat, another set of devices can be engaged.

The intelligent component 602 can employ value of information (VOI)computation in order to identify available devices to switch to and/oradjustments for inputs or outputs on a selected device. For instance, byutilizing VOI computation, the most ideal and/or appropriate devicesand/or adjustments for inputs or outputs can be determined Moreover, itis to be understood that the intelligent component 602 can provide forreasoning about or infer states of the system, environment, and/or userfrom a set of observations as captured via events and/or data. Inferencecan be employed to identify a specific context or action, or cangenerate a probability distribution over states, for example. Theinference can be probabilistic—that is, the computation of a probabilitydistribution over states of interest based on a consideration of dataand events. Inference can also refer to techniques employed forcomposing higher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Suchinference results in the construction of new events or actions from aset of observed events and/or stored event data, whether or not theevents are correlated in close temporal proximity, and whether theevents and data come from one or several event and data sources. Variousclassification (explicitly and/or implicitly trained) schemes and/orsystems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks, expert systems,Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, data fusion engines . . . ) canbe employed in connection with performing automatic and/or inferredaction in connection with the claimed subject matter.

A classifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1,x2, x3, x4, xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, thatis, f(x)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ aprobabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring intothe analysis utilities and costs) to prognose or infer an action that auser desires to be automatically performed. A support vector machine(SVM) is an example of a classifier that can be employed. The SVMoperates by finding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs,which hypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from thenon-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachesinclude, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statisticalregression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

The detection component 102 can further utilize a presentation component604 that provides various types of user interfaces to facilitateinteraction between a user and any component coupled to the detectioncomponent 102. As depicted, the presentation component 604 is a separateentity that can be utilized with the detection component 102. However,it is to be appreciated that the presentation component 604 and/orsimilar view components can be incorporated into the detection component102 and/or a stand-alone unit. The presentation component 604 canprovide one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs), command lineinterfaces, and the like. For example, a GUI can be rendered thatprovides a user with a region or means to load, import, read, etc.,data, and can include a region to present the results of such. Theseregions can comprise known text and/or graphic regions comprisingdialogue boxes, static controls, drop-down-menus, list boxes, pop-upmenus, as edit controls, combo boxes, radio buttons, check boxes, pushbuttons, and graphic boxes. In addition, utilities to facilitate thepresentation such as vertical and/or horizontal scroll bars fornavigation and toolbar buttons to determine whether a region will beviewable can be employed. For example, the user can interact with one ormore of the components coupled and/or incorporated into the detectioncomponent 102.

The user can also interact with the regions to select and provideinformation via various devices such as a mouse, a roller ball, atouchpad, a keypad, a keyboard, a touch screen, a pen and/or voiceactivation, a body motion detection, for example. Typically, a mechanismsuch as a push button or the enter key on the keyboard can be employedsubsequent entering the information in order to initiate the search.However, it is to be appreciated that the claimed subject matter is notso limited. For example, merely highlighting a check box can initiateinformation conveyance. In another example, a command line interface canbe employed. For example, the command line interface can prompt (e.g.,via a text message on a display and an audio tone) the user forinformation via providing a text message. The user can then providesuitable information, such as alpha-numeric input corresponding to anoption provided in the interface prompt or an answer to a question posedin the prompt. It is to be appreciated that the command line interfacecan be employed in connection with a GUI and/or API. In addition, thecommand line interface can be employed in connection with hardware(e.g., video cards) and/or displays (e.g., black and white, EGA, VGA,SVGA, etc.) with limited graphic support, and/or low bandwidthcommunication channels.

FIGS. 7-8 illustrate methodologies and/or flow diagrams in accordancewith the claimed subject matter. For simplicity of explanation, themethodologies are depicted and described as a series of acts. It is tobe understood and appreciated that the subject innovation is not limitedby the acts illustrated and/or by the order of acts. For example actscan occur in various orders and/or concurrently, and with other acts notpresented and described herein. Furthermore, not all illustrated actsmay be required to implement the methodologies in accordance with theclaimed subject matter. In addition, those skilled in the art willunderstand and appreciate that the methodologies could alternatively berepresented as a series of interrelated states via a state diagram orevents. Additionally, it should be further appreciated that themethodologies disclosed hereinafter and throughout this specificationare capable of being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitatetransporting and transferring such methodologies to computers. The termarticle of manufacture, as used herein, is intended to encompass acomputer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier,or media.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 that facilitates selecting a device thatinteracts with a telepresence session based upon a detected cue. Atreference numeral 702, a telepresence session can be hosted by acommunication framework in which two physical users can communicate. Atreference numeral 704, two or more devices can be utilized tocommunicate with the telepresence session. It is to be appreciated thatthe device can be, but is not limited to being, a laptop, a smartphone,a desktop, a microphone, a live video feed, a web camera, a mobiledevice, a cellular device, a wireless device, a gaming device, aportable gaming device, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a headset,an audio device, a telephone, a tablet, a messaging device, a monitor, acamera, a media player, a portable media device, a browser device, akeyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a speaker, a wireless Internet browser, adedicated device or surrogate for telepresence etc.

At reference numeral 706, a cue related to the user or an environmentrelated to the user can be identified, wherein the cue is at least oneof a movement, an event, or an ambient change. It is to be appreciatedthat the cue can be detected or identified in real time. The movementcan be, but is not limited to being, eye movement, geographic location,local proximity, hand motions, hand gestures, body motions (e.g.,yawning, mouth movement, head movement, etc.), and the like. Forexample, the event can be, but is not limited to being, a pre-definedcommand (e.g., a voice command, a user-initiated command, etc.), a topicpresented within the telepresence session 104, a portion of datapresented within the telepresence session 104, a format/type of datapresented, a change in a presenter within the telepresence session 104,what is being presented, a time lapse, an arrival within the session ofvirtually represented users, a departure from the session from virtuallyrepresented users, a break during the meeting, a manipulation of ashared document, a stroke on an input device (e.g., tablet, touchscreen, white board, etc.), a loss of a network connection, etc. Theambient change can be related to, for instance, changes in theenvironment (e.g., room temperature, humidity, level of noise, etc.),surroundings (e.g., voice levels, background noise, etc.), users (e.g.,tone, excitement, boredom, emotion, blood pressure, heart rates, etc.),and the like.

At reference numeral 708, a device can be selected and activated tocommunicate with the telepresence session based at least in part uponthe identified cue. In other words, based upon a received cue,communication (e.g., receipt of data, transmission of data, etc.) withinthe telepresence session can be seamlessly handed off between devices inorder to provide enhanced and optimal interaction within suchtelepresence session.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 for optimally selecting devices andinputs or outputs on a device for interaction within a telepresencesession. At reference numeral 802, a telepresence session can beinitiated in which a user is virtually represented therein. At referencenumeral 804, a device can be leveraged to communicate within thetelepresence session, wherein the device includes at least one of aninput to transmit data or an output to receive data. At referencenumeral 806, a cue related to the user can be detected in real time. Forexample, the cue can be associated with the user or a user's environmentand can be, but is not limited to being, a detected motion, an eventdetection, or an ambient variation.

At reference numeral 808, a setting related to at least one of the inputor the output can be adjusted based upon the detected cue. Theadjustment to an input can be, but is not limited to being, a microphonesensitivity, a noise cancellation, an angle, a perspective, a zoom, apan, a focus, a resolution, a contrast, a brightness, a coloradjustment, a gesture detection sensitivity, motion detectionsensitivity, voice distortion, etc. Furthermore, the adjustment to anoutput can be, but is not limited to being, a volume, a resolution,brightness, a screen size, an object size, a contrast, a language, ascreen position, a pixel ratio, a frequency, a refresh rate, a framerate, etc. It is to be appreciated that an input and/or output devicecan move to adjust. At reference numeral 810, a recordation of thetelepresence session can be employed to enable a playback based upon atemporary absence of at least one of the users. In other words, atemporary absence from a telepresence session by a user can be trackedand recorded in order to allow the user to “catch up” or receive trackedinformation (e.g., user control, fast forward, fast rewind, pause, play,rewind, seek, etc.).

In order to provide additional context for implementing various aspectsof the claimed subject matter, FIGS. 9-10 and the following discussionis intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment in which the various aspects of the subjectinnovation may be implemented. For example, a detection component canmonitor cues from a user virtually represented within a telepresencesession in order to adjust devices, as described in the previousfigures, can be implemented in such suitable computing environment.While the claimed subject matter has been described above in the generalcontext of computer-executable instructions of a computer program thatruns on a local computer and/or remote computer, those skilled in theart will recognize that the subject innovation also may be implementedin combination with other program modules. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, components, data structures, etc., thatperform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract datatypes.

Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventivemethods may be practiced with other computer system configurations,including single-processor or multi-processor computer systems,minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers,hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based and/or programmableconsumer electronics, and the like, each of which may operativelycommunicate with one or more associated devices. The illustrated aspectsof the claimed subject matter may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments where certain tasks are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network.However, some, if not all, aspects of the subject innovation may bepracticed on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in local and/or remotememory storage devices.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-computing environment900 with which the claimed subject matter can interact. The system 900includes one or more client(s) 910. The client(s) 910 can be hardwareand/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices). Thesystem 900 also includes one or more server(s) 920. The server(s) 920can be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computingdevices). The servers 920 can house threads to perform transformationsby employing the subject innovation, for example.

One possible communication between a client 910 and a server 920 can bein the form of a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two ormore computer processes. The system 900 includes a communicationframework 940 that can be employed to facilitate communications betweenthe client(s) 910 and the server(s) 920. The client(s) 910 are operablyconnected to one or more client data store(s) 950 that can be employedto store information local to the client(s) 910. Similarly, theserver(s) 920 are operably connected to one or more server data store(s)930 that can be employed to store information local to the servers 920.

With reference to FIG. 10, an exemplary environment 1000 forimplementing various aspects of the claimed subject matter includes acomputer 1012. The computer 1012 includes a processing unit 1014, asystem memory 1016, and a system bus 1018. The system bus 1018 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 1016to the processing unit 1014. The processing unit 1014 can be any ofvarious available processors. Dual microprocessors and othermultiprocessor architectures also can be employed as the processing unit1014.

The system bus 1018 can be any of several types of bus structure(s)including the memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus orexternal bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of available busarchitectures including, but not limited to, Industrial StandardArchitecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA(EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB),Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Card Bus, Universal Serial Bus(USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association bus (PCMCIA), Firewire (IEEE 1394), and SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI).

The system memory 1016 includes volatile memory 1020 and nonvolatilememory 1022. The basic input/output system (BIOS), containing the basicroutines to transfer information between elements within the computer1012, such as during start-up, is stored in nonvolatile memory 1022. Byway of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory 1022 caninclude read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electricallyprogrammable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory 1020 includes random accessmemory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way ofillustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such asstatic RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), doubledata rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM(SLDRAM), Rambus direct RAM (RDRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM),and Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM).

Computer 1012 also includes removable/non-removable,volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. FIG. 10 illustrates, forexample a disk storage 1024. Disk storage 1024 includes, but is notlimited to, devices like a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk drive, tapedrive, Jaz drive, Zip drive, LS-100 drive, flash memory card, or memorystick. In addition, disk storage 1024 can include storage mediaseparately or in combination with other storage media including, but notlimited to, an optical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device(CD-ROM), CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RWDrive) or a digital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitateconnection of the disk storage devices 1024 to the system bus 1018, aremovable or non-removable interface is typically used such as interface1026.

It is to be appreciated that FIG. 10 describes software that acts as anintermediary between users and the basic computer resources described inthe suitable operating environment 1000. Such software includes anoperating system 1028. Operating system 1028, which can be stored ondisk storage 1024, acts to control and allocate resources of thecomputer system 1012. System applications 1030 take advantage of themanagement of resources by operating system 1028 through program modules1032 and program data 1034 stored either in system memory 1016 or ondisk storage 1024. It is to be appreciated that the claimed subjectmatter can be implemented with various operating systems or combinationsof operating systems.

A user enters commands or information into the computer 1012 throughinput device(s) 1036. Input devices 1036 include, but are not limitedto, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad,keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TVtuner card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and thelike. These and other input devices connect to the processing unit 1014through the system bus 1018 via interface port(s) 1038. Interfaceport(s) 1038 include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, agame port, and a universal serial bus (USB). Output device(s) 1040 usesome of the same type of ports as input device(s) 1036. Thus, forexample, a USB port may be used to provide input to computer 1012, andto output information from computer 1012 to an output device 1040.Output adapter 1042 is provided to illustrate that there are some outputdevices 1040 like monitors, speakers, and printers, among other outputdevices 1040, which require special adapters. The output adapters 1042include, by way of illustration and not limitation, video and soundcards that provide a means of connection between the output device 1040and the system bus 1018. It should be noted that other devices and/orsystems of devices provide both input and output capabilities such asremote computer(s) 1044.

Computer 1012 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s)1044. The remote computer(s) 1044 can be a personal computer, a server,a router, a network PC, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance,a peer device or other common network node and the like, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to computer1012. For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1046 isillustrated with remote computer(s) 1044. Remote computer(s) 1044 islogically connected to computer 1012 through a network interface 1048and then physically connected via communication connection 1050. Networkinterface 1048 encompasses wire and/or wireless communication networkssuch as local-area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN). LANtechnologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), CopperDistributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ring and the like.WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links,circuit switching networks like Integrated Services Digital Networks(ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, and DigitalSubscriber Lines (DSL).

Communication connection(s) 1050 refers to the hardware/softwareemployed to connect the network interface 1048 to the bus 1018. Whilecommunication connection 1050 is shown for illustrative clarity insidecomputer 1012, it can also be external to computer 1012. Thehardware/software necessary for connection to the network interface 1048includes, for exemplary purposes only, internal and externaltechnologies such as, modems including regular telephone grade modems,cable modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.

What has been described above includes examples of the subjectinnovation. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art mayrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the subjectinnovation are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In particular and in regard to the various functions performed by theabove described components, devices, circuits, systems and the like, theterms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe suchcomponents are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, toany component which performs the specified function of the describedcomponent (e.g., a functional equivalent), even though not structurallyequivalent to the disclosed structure, which performs the function inthe herein illustrated exemplary aspects of the claimed subject matter.In this regard, it will also be recognized that the innovation includesa system as well as a computer-readable medium havingcomputer-executable instructions for performing the acts and/or eventsof the various methods of the claimed subject matter.

There are multiple ways of implementing the present innovation, e.g., anappropriate API, tool kit, driver code, operating system, control,standalone or downloadable software object, etc. which enablesapplications and services to use the advertising techniques of theinvention. The claimed subject matter contemplates the use from thestandpoint of an API (or other software object), as well as from asoftware or hardware object that operates according to the advertisingtechniques in accordance with the invention. Thus, variousimplementations of the innovation described herein may have aspects thatare wholly in hardware, partly in hardware and partly in software, aswell as in software.

The aforementioned systems have been described with respect tointeraction between several components. It can be appreciated that suchsystems and components can include those components or specifiedsub-components, some of the specified components or sub-components,and/or additional components, and according to various permutations andcombinations of the foregoing. Sub-components can also be implemented ascomponents communicatively coupled to other components rather thanincluded within parent components (hierarchical). Additionally, itshould be noted that one or more components may be combined into asingle component providing aggregate functionality or divided intoseveral separate sub-components, and any one or more middle layers, suchas a management layer, may be provided to communicatively couple to suchsub-components in order to provide integrated functionality. Anycomponents described herein may also interact with one or more othercomponents not specifically described herein but generally known bythose of skill in the art.

In addition, while a particular feature of the subject innovation mayhave been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations,such feature may be combined with one or more other features of theother implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any givenor particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms“includes,” “including,” “has,” “contains,” variants thereof, and othersimilar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims,these terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term“comprising” as an open transition word without precluding anyadditional or other elements.

1. A method comprising: under control of one or more processorsconfigured with executable instructions: conducting a telepresencesession between a first user and one or more second users; determining atemporary absence of the first user from the telepresence session in themidst of the telepresence session; and in response to determining thetemporary absence of the first user from the telepresence session in themidst of the telepresence session, initializing a recordation of thetelepresence session to enable a playback of a portion of thetelepresence session that the first user has missed.
 2. The method asrecited in claim 1, further comprising utilizing a plurality of devicesto enable the first user to conduct the telepresence session with theone or more second users.
 3. The method as recited in claim 2, furthercomprising triggering a seamless hand-off from a first device of theplurality of devices to a second device of the plurality of devices inresponse to detecting a motion of the first user.
 4. The method asrecited in claim 3, wherein the second device is closer to the firstuser than the first device after the motion of the first user.
 5. Themethod as recited in claim 2, further comprising triggering a selectionof a device of the plurality of devices and/or an adjustment of an inputor output of the device in response to detecting an ambient change in anenvironment associated with the first user.
 6. The method as recited inclaim 5, wherein the ambient change comprises a change in a roomtemperature, a change in an amount of humidity, a change in a noiselevel, a change in a voice level, a change in background noise, a changein a user body language, a change in a tone from the first user, achange in excitement of the first user, a change in a boredom level forthe first user, a change in emotion of the first user, a change in ablood pressure of the first user and/or a change in a heart rate of thefirst user.
 7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprisingenabling the first user to be virtually represented within thetelepresence session to receive transmission from the telepresencesession independent of a physical attendance of the first user.
 8. Themethod as recited in claim 1, further comprising enabling the first userto set an alarm for informing the first user when a particular user ofthe one or more second users is talking in the telepresence session orwhen a subject discussed within the telepresence session is changed. 9.The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising after the firstuser returns from the temporary absence, continuing to conduct thetelepresence session using a first device that is used for conductingthe telepresence session and providing a summary of the portion of thetelepresence session that the first user has missed on a second devicethat is different from the first device.
 10. One or morecomputer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that,when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or moreprocessors to perform acts comprising: enabling a telepresence sessionfor a first user to communicate with one or more second users;determining a temporary absence of the first user from the telepresencesession; and in response to determining the temporary absence of thefirst user from the telepresence session, recording the telepresencesession.
 11. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim10, the acts further comprising utilizing a plurality of devices toenable the first user to conduct the telepresence session with the oneor more second users.
 12. The one or more computer-readable media asrecited in claim 11, the acts further comprising triggering a seamlesshand-off from a first device of the plurality of devices to a seconddevice of the plurality of devices in response to detecting a motion ofthe first user.
 13. The one or more computer-readable media as recitedin claim 12, wherein the second device is closer to the first user thanthe first device after the motion of the first user.
 14. The one or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 11, the acts furthercomprising triggering a selection of a device of the plurality ofdevices and/or an adjustment of an input or output of the device inresponse to detecting an ambient change in an environment associatedwith the first user.
 15. The one or more computer-readable media asrecited in claim 14, wherein the ambient change comprises a change in aroom temperature, a change in an amount of humidity, a change in a noiselevel, a change in a voice level, a change in background noise, a changein a user body language, a change in a tone from the first user, achange in excitement of the first user, a change in a boredom level forthe first user, a change in emotion of the first user, a change in ablood pressure of the first user and/or a change in a heart rate of thefirst user.
 16. The one or more computer-readable media as recited inclaim 10, the acts further comprising enabling the first user to bevirtually represented within the telepresence session to receivetransmission from the telepresence session independent of a physicalattendance of the first user.
 17. The one or more computer-readablemedia as recited in claim 10, the acts further comprising enabling thefirst user to set an alarm for informing the first user when aparticular user of the one or more second users is talking in thetelepresence session or when a subject discussed within the telepresencesession is changed.
 18. The one or more computer-readable media asrecited in claim 10, the acts further comprising after the first userreturns from the temporary absence, providing to the first user aportion of the telepresence session that has been recorded during thetemporary absence of the first user on a first device.
 19. The one ormore computer-readable media as recited in claim 18, the acts furthercomprising continuing to conduct the telepresence session for the firstuser using a second device that is different from the first device thatprovides to the first user the portion of the telepresence session thathas been recorded during the temporary absence of the first user.
 20. Asystem comprising: one or more processors; memory storingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, configure the one or more processors to perform actscomprising: enabling a telepresence session for a first user tocommunicate with one or more second users; determining a temporaryabsence of the first user from the telepresence session; in response todetermining the temporary absence of the first user from thetelepresence session, recording the telepresence session during thetemporary absence of the first user; and after the first user returnsfrom the temporary absence, providing to the first user a portion of thetelepresence session that has been recorded during the temporary absenceof the first user.